Landlords are being offered free advice and information at a new event which will be taking place next week. The event is open to not just current landlords but prospective landlords as well, who are looking for help and advice on how to manage rental properties.
Exeter City Council along with Teignbridge District Council and East and Mid Devon Councils have all joined forces to launch the first Landlord EXPO in the area. It will take place at Sandy Park Conference Centre from 12pm to 7pm and there will be free parking and refreshments for anyone attending throughout the day.
On the day of the event there will be local authority stands as well as community police, fire, deposit protection advice, energy advice, letting agents and representatives from the council. In the lead up to the event, property owners are being warned to make sure that they have landlord insurance because the cold weather has seen increase in house fires.
House fires are notoriously more common during the winter months because people will use coal fires, wood-burning stoves and electric heaters more often as they try to keep warm. These will provide heat but they also pose some risks.
All landlords should be checking what exactly is covered on their insurance policy if there was to be a fire. New and accidental landlords may just buy cover for their buildings which will normally cover any damage to the structure of the property. However, if there was damage to any light fittings, carpets or furniture which the landlord has provided for the tenant, a buildings policy would not be enough and a separate insurance policy which covers contents would be needed.
Chris Pearson, sales manager for an insurance firm said, “Adequate landlord insurance is a necessity for property owners renting out their building to tenants to protect against damage from fires and to protect themselves from injury to tenants. Owning a rental property can be expensive so landlords should protect their investment by considering purchasing the most comprehensive policies available.”